Pathologic N

This input is used for staging

Notes

**Note 1:** Histological examination of hilar and mediastinal lymphadenectomy specimen(s) will ordinarily include 6 or more lymph nodes/stations. Three of these nodes/stations should be mediastinal, including the subcarinal nodes and 3 from N1 nodes/stations. Labeling according to the IASLC chart and table of definitions given in the TNM supplement is desirable. If all the lymph nodes examined are negative, but the number ordinarily examined is not met, classify as pN0. (1) **Note 2:** Code only regional nodes and nodes, NOS, in this field. Distant nodes are coded in M (distant metastasis). **Note 3:** Vocal cord paralysis (resulting from involvement of the recurrent branch of the vagus nerve), superior vena cava (SVC) obstruction, or compression of the trachea or the esophagus, may be related to direct extension of the primary tumor or to lymph node involvement. The treatment options and prognosis associated with these manifestations of disease extent fall within the T4-Stage IIIB category; therefore, generally assign T4 for these manifestations and not regional lymph nodes. * If the primary tumor is peripheral and clearly unrelated to vocal cord paralysis, SVC obstruction, or compression of the trachea or the esophagus, assign N2 for mediastinal lymph node involvement, unless there is a statement of involvement by direct extension from the primary tumor

NAACCR Item

NAACCR #890
Pathologic N Pathologic N Display Description Registrar Notes
pX pNX Regional lymph node(s) cannot be assessed Pathologic classification criteria met, evaluation done:
Physician unable to assess N
Surgical resection primary tumor, no regional lymph nodes removed
Involvement of regional lymph nodes not documented
Physician assigns pNX, no other information available to determine N
p0 pN0 No regional lymph node metastasis
p1 pN1 Metastasis in ipsilateral peribronchial and/or ipsilateral hilar lymph nodes and intrapulmonary nodes, including involvement by direct extension Regional lymph nodes, ipsilateral:
Bronchial
Hilar (bronchopulmonary) (proximal lobar) (pulmonary root)
Intrapulmonary nodes, including involvement by direct extension:
Interlobar
Lobar
Segmental
Subsegmental
Peri/parabronchial

Regional lymph node(s), NOS
Lymph nodes, NOS

Stated as N1
p2 pN2 Metastasis in ipsilateral mediastinal and/or subcarinal lymph node(s) Regional lymph nodes, ipsilateral:
Aortic (above diaphragm), NOS:
Peri/para-aortic, NOS:
Ascending aorta (phrenic)
Subaortic (aortico-pulmonary window)
Carinal (tracheobronchial) (tracheal bifurcation)
Mediastinal, NOS:
Anterior
Posterior (tracheoesophageal)
Pericardial
Peri/paraesophageal
Peri/paratracheal, NOS:
Azygos (lower peritracheal)
Pre- and retrotracheal, NOS:
Precarinal
Pulmonary ligament
Subcarinal

Stated as N2
p3 pN3 Metastasis in contralateral mediastinal, contralateral hilar, ipsilateral or contralateral scalene, or supraclavicular lymph node(s) Contralateral/bilateral hilar (bronchopulmonary) (proximal lobar) (pulmonary root)
Contralateral/bilateral mediastinal
Scalene (inferior deep cervical), ipsilateral or contralateral
Supraclavicular (transverse cervical), ipsilateral or contralateral

Stated as N3
c0 cN0 Clinically: No regional lymph node metastasis Use only for TNM defined pTis cases where there is a resection of the primary and the nodes are not evaluated pathologically
88 88 Not applicable Primary site/histology not TNM defined
Death certificate only (DCO) case
<BLANK> BLANK See Registrar Notes Pathologic classification criteria not met
No surgical resection of primary tumor and there isn’t a positive biopsy of a structure in the highest T category and highest N category
Evidence of metastatic disease (pM1), no other workup
Only Pathologic Stage Group documented (no T, N, or M information available)
(1) International Union Against Cancer (UICC) *TNM Classification of Malignant Tumors,* 7th ed., Sobin, LH, Gospodarowicz, M, Wittekind, CH, eds. New York: Wiley, 2009, pg., 142